Gravel-bed for wagons



(No Model.) 0; M. GOTT'ERMAN.

. GRAVEL BED FOR WAGONS. No. 361,675. Patented Apr. 26, 1887 l vivh 1 eqoea Suva M301:

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UNITED STATES CLINTON M. COTTERMAN, OF PYRMONT, OHIO.

GRAVEL-BED FOR WAGONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 361,675, dated April 26, 1887.

Application filed January 26, 1887. Serial No. 225,537. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLINTON M. (Jorrnn- MAN, of Pyrmont, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and Improved Gravel-Bed for WVagons, of which the following is a specification.

Hitherto in the usual wagons or carts in tended for carrying sand, gravel, 820., the bed of the wagon has been composed of a series of slats running lengthwise of the wagon, which are removed one by one in order to dump the contents of the wagon. To facilitate the dumping and obviate the necessity of removing the slats separately, the slats have been eccentrically pivoted at their ends and provided with operating mechanism, so that they can all be turned or caused to turn simultaneously.

The present invention relatesto gravel-beds of this character; and it consists in the arrangement of the slats and in the mechanism for operating the same.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view, Fig. 2 a longitudinal section, and Fig. 3 a cross-section, of a wagon-body provided with the present improvements.

A is the body of the wagon, and B B the slats eccentrically pivoted to the ends thereof. The slats, owing to their eccentric pivots, normally hang downward, as shown in Fig. 3, leaving a space between them for the discharge of the sand, gravel, 850. The central slats are pivoted so as to swing toward each other, and the side slats swing, respectively, in the same way-that is, all swing toward the center away from the sides of the wagon. This is important, since as the slats never reach a vertical position, but in their lowest position incline toward each other, the sand or gravel from both sides is directed toward the center, and is thus deposited more compactly than otherwise one of the cranks a (preferably the forward one) is an upwardly-extending operatinghandle, D, which is connected to a vertical the direction of arrow 1 the shafts are lowered.

\Vhen the shafts are in their highest position, the upper surfaces of the slats are horizontal and flush with each other, and the weight of the gravel, &c., is supported by the shafts. WVhen the shafts are lowered, the weight of the gravel causes the slats to turn on their pivots, and the gravel is discharged through the spaces between them. When the shafts have reached their lowest position, the edges of the slats rest upon them, the slats being inclined, as shown in Fig. 3, so that when the edges are again turned upward the slats are swung into position.

I claim as my invention-- 1. The bed composed of slats eccentrically pivoted, in combination with cranked shafts beneath the same, on which the slats rest, substantially as set forth.

2. The bed composed of slats eccentrically pivoted, the slats on opposite sides being pivoted so as to turn toward the center and to ward each other, in combination with cranked shafts beneath the same, on which the slats rest, substantially as set forth.

3. The wagon-body A and slats B B, eccentril-ally pivoted to the ends thereof, in combination with the shafts G 0, having cranks a a mounted in bearings on the sides of the wagon-body, the operating-handle D, connected to one of said cranks, vertical arms I), connected to the other cranks, and rod E, connecting the handle D and the arms I), substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. 1

CLINTON M, OOTTERMAN- Witnesses:

WILLIAM WV. HAMILTON, CHRISTIAN GENTNER. 

